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FAQ

Listed below are common questions about ArcGIS Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud.

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Can I save my layers and web map to share as items in my organization?

Yes. This functionality is available when you use the Save to my ArcGIS content option in the Compilation window. You can save a new web map or overwrite an existing web map with changes that you make in the Compilation window. (The styling and graphic changes that you make in the Adobe files cannot be saved to layers and maps in ArcGIS.)

Can I use maps and layouts that were exported from ArcGIS Pro?

Yes. When maps and layouts are exported from ArcGIS Pro as an Adobe Illustrator Exchange (AIX) file format, you can open the .aix file in Illustrator for graphic design. When you open the .aix file, the extension converts vector and raster map content into editable, layered artwork that you can save for use in other Adobe Creative Cloud applications.

Is changing map projections supported?

Yes, you can change a projection for a mapboard using Current map settings in the Compilation window. For maps exported from ArcGIS Pro in the AIX file format, if the map is projected in ArcGIS Pro, the map will appear with that projection once processed in Illustrator. To ensure that any added data aligns with the layers from the corresponding .aix file, you cannot change the projection in the Current map settings window.

How can I customize the maps that I add to the extension so the layers are easier to use and already include my branding when downloaded to Illustrator?

If you have an ArcGIS organizational account, use the Default mapping profile, which supports adding vector tile layers and maps. You can customize vector basemaps using the ArcGIS Vector Tile Style Editor before adding them to your map in the extension.

Does the extension support only vector content?

No, both vector and raster maps and layers can be used in the extension. The output in Illustrator is vector for feature layers and image for raster layers. In Photoshop, however, both vector and raster layers are output as raster. For a complete list of what's supported, see Data types.

Can I change the style and appearance of the content in a map?

Yes, before you sync a map, you can use the style options in the Compilation window to change the appearance of a layer in the map.

My web map has symbology I used from smart mapping tools. Do these styles carry over into Adobe Illustrator?

Some web map smart mapping symbology does convert differently when it's downloaded into Adobe Illustrator.

Does the extension support all smart mapping capabilities similar to ArcGIS Online?

No. Although the extension does allow you to use the smart mapping capability, there are some limitations.

If the GIS data from the source content is updated, will my corresponding designs be automatically updated to match?

Designs are not automatically updated when underlying data changes, but you can run sync again on the related map in the extension to download layer changes to your artwork as needed. The extension converts GIS content into graphics and embeds the compiled map in the downloaded file, which allows you to add more content later that you can sync to your artwork.

Are there any use constraints associated with the maps that I include in my designs?

If you use public data in your maps, review this summary of permitted use and data attribution requirements. For complete details, see the full terms of use.

General

Do I need ArcGIS Pro to use the extension?

No, Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud only requires having Illustrator or Photoshop installed and a supported account type to directly access and use maps and layers from ArcGIS, including content available in ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World and your ArcGIS organization (if applicable). If your workflows include ArcGIS Pro, such as to perform GIS operations on data before designing, you can use exported maps and layouts (as AIX) and published content with the extension as well.

Is my use of the extension and data confidential?

There is an optional setting to allow Esri to track aspects of your usage for the purpose of making improvements based on understanding how you're using the extension. Some examples include the number of downloads and which tools and type of symbols and labels are used. For privacy, you can opt out by turning off this option in the Settings window. In addition, the map file (Ai document) that's created on Esri servers and sent back to you is stored for a limited time (approximately six hours) so the product team can check the file if anything goes wrong. Esri does not share any of this information outside of the product team; it's only used to help debug and improve the extension.

Can I use the extension with non-English Illustrator?

Yes, you can use Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud with non-English Illustrator. However, the user interface for the extension will display all the controls in English. Greater internationalization support is being considered.

Does the extension automatically update when a new version is available?

If you installed version 1.5 (or later) using a setup file that you downloaded from the Esri website, when a new update is available, you'll see a notification message in the Mapboard window after you sign in. You can choose whether to update immediately or at a later time.

Does Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud consume credits?

Credits are the currency used in ArcGIS Online and across ArcGIS for storage and transaction-based services and tools such as geoenrichment and spatial analysis. As indicated in the Functionality matrix, some operations performed in the extension consume credits, such as plotting addresses in bulk from local files (geocoding), visualizing routes and travel times, and adding demographic attributes (geoenrichment). Most of what you do in Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud does not require credits—for example, using standard basemaps, searching places to plot locations on the map (geosearching), changing the map projection, modifying layers with style, labels, and filters, and downloading the map as artwork.

  • ArcGIS Online accounts—Your credit allotment is based on organization and member settings. If necessary, ask your organization administrator for assistance with your credit balance. (If you share your compiled map as a web map in your organization, standard credit use for storage applies. See Understand credits to learn more about credits and storage in an ArcGIS organization.)
  • Plus accounts (legacy)—You can use up to 160 credits worth of these operations per monthly subscription term. With 160 credits you can geocode 4,000 addresses, or generate 320 drive-time analysis areas, or visualize 32,000 routes, or enrich features with 16,000 demographic attributes, or any combination of these based on the calculations described in the provided credits table. If you perform several of these operations during the one-month term, credits are calculated cumulatively.

Use the following table to estimate how many credits you will need to perform specific tasks:

WorkflowCredits

Plot addresses and map data in bulk from local files (geocode) when you create a mapboard by importing a file or add a map layer from a file.

40 credits per 1,000 geocodes

Visualize travel times

0.5 credits per drive time or walk time

Example: To create a 5-minute and 10-minute drive time around 10 points, the result is (0.5 credits × 2 drive-time areas) × 10 features = 10 credits used.

Visualize routes

0.005 credits per simple route

Enrich layers with demographic attributes

10 credits per 1,000 attributes (data variables multiplied by total feature records)

Example: 10 credits per 1,000 attributes is 0.01 credits per attribute. If you add 10 variables to 30 locations, you get 300 total attributes. The result is 0.01 credits × 300 attributes = 3 credits used.

What are my options for getting help with the extension?

You can ask questions in Esri Community by going to the ArcGIS Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud page. If you have an ArcGIS organizational account through an organization with a maintenance plan, Esri Technical Support can help you with the extension.

Accounts

Do I need a license to use Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud if I already have an ArcGIS account?

If you have an ArcGIS organizational account, access to Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud is automatically included. In ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Enterprise (version 11.1 and later), the extension is listed as an included license among other essential apps, such as Map Viewer and ArcGIS StoryMaps. You can see this when viewing the licenses in your user profile. If you're an organization administrator, you can see it in the licensing page so you're aware that it's an available app for organization members. If you don't have an account, you can try the extension with full capabilities by signing up for a free 21-day trial subscription.

Can I give others access to my account?

This is not permitted. Each username for all account types is intended for a single user. If multiple people will use the extension in your company, each person must have their own account.

Can I use the extension with an ArcGIS Enterprise account?

Yes, at version 3.0, Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud supports ArcGIS Enterprise 10.9 and later.

What is the deprecation plan for the legacy Plus account type?

Esri is deprecating the Plus account type, which provides a month-to-month subscription to use Maps for Adobe Creative Cloud with commercial-grade access to premium maps and layers from ArcGIS Online and a limited set of advanced mapping features. In February 2023, the version 3.3.2 update removed the Plus sign up from the extension. Existing Plus accounts will not be renewed after the March 2023 billing cycle. Effective May 1, 2023, the Plus account type will no longer be supported. To continue using the extension, you'll need to upgrade to an ArcGIS Online account by purchasing an annual subscription or by joining an ArcGIS organization with an account that has a supported user type. Check your email for more details about Plus retirement and migration options.

In the meantime, if you won't be cancelling your Plus account before the final billing cycle of March 2023, here are answers to common questions about the renewal process:

  • Your account is renewed and payment automatically charged each month until you request that your account be cancelled, which you can request via the account management page (click the Account button on the Mapboards or Compilation window and click Manage Account). Your credit card is authorized three days before the term end date. An email is sent during the authorization of the credit card and an invoice email is sent once the order is processed. Your access is extended for 30 days from the start date.
  • Esri follows the industry standard and never receives your credit card information. Instead, a token is received that can only be decrypted by a third-party vendor called Paymetric, which is a PCI-compliant payment processor.
  • It will take 2-3 business days to get a receipt after the credit card is charged.

What happened to the Complimentary account type?

Effective January 31, 2023, the Complimentary account type (which provided access to a freemium version with limited features) is no longer supported. The version 3.3 update replaced Complimentary sign up in the extension with a free 21-day trial subscription to try full capabilities.


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